MSU athletics director Mark Hollis found exactly what he was looking for. Year in and year out, it seemed as though the MSU baseball team couldn’t take the next step.
Once upon a time, if you wanted to go to an MSU baseball game, you had to weigh it against a sore back and fiberglass in the seat of your pants from a pathetic excuse for stadium seating. There was no regional Big Ten Network exposure, the media accommodations were akin to Marshall Mathers’ first trailer park home and player introduction music came from what sounded more like an iHome than a PA system. Nobody in the MSU baseball community longs for those days of yore.
Western Michigan right fielder Tim Cross hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth to break a 10-10 tie, giving the Broncos a 11-10 win and the MSU baseball team its first two-game losing of the season.
For years, the MSU baseball team has been near or below .500 entering Big Ten play, needing a miracle run in the conference to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. But with a 22-6 record for one of the best starts in school history, every win counts toward a possible at-large bid to the tournament in June.
Right-handed starter Tony Bucciferro was excellent on the hill for the Spartans through six innings, but racked up five earned runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings as the Spartans lost a late 3-2 lead.
The MSU baseball team went from a midweek nonconference game to gearing up for the annual Crosstown Showdown exhibition — which was postponed because of weather — to mentally preparing for a long road trip against Big Ten foe Minnesota.
Today’s Crosstown Showdown between the MSU baseball team and Lansing Lugnuts has been canceled due to weather. The game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 26 at 7:05 p.m. at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Spartans will make the short journey down Michigan Avenue to Cooley Law School Stadium to take on the Lansing Lugnuts in the fourth annual Crosstown Showdown. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
From the No. 9 spot in the batting order, sophomore catcher Andy Johnson went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to help propel the Spartans past Bowling Green, 5-2, Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.
After the MSU baseball team pounded Iowa, 26-11, Sunday, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. had an important message for his team. In the postgame huddle, Boss stressed not to let the lopsided victory get into his team’s head, especially with a tough game against Bowling Green slated for 3:05 p.m. Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.
It took a little while for the MSU baseball team’s offense to get rolling Sunday. But when the Spartans found their groove, they made Iowa pay, routing the Hawkeyes 26-11 on Sunday at McLane Baseball Stadium in the rubber match of the first Big Ten series of the season for both teams.
The bats of MSU and Central Michigan were the story of the game, as the Spartans defeated the Chippewas, 13-10, in a midweek slugfest at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing.
The seniors on this year’s MSU baseball team have struggled against Central Michigan in their time at MSU. In the past three seasons, the Spartans only have posted one victory against the Chippewas in six attempts.
With Sunday’s 10-3 victory against Oakland at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, the Spartans (16-4) have now won 10 straight games.
Granted, conference play hasn’t started yet. But the MSU baseball team is off to a 12-4 start, the team’s best since the 2002 season when it posted a 14-2 record through its first 16 games.
MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. likes playing Eastern Michigan. His past with the Eagles ups the stakes when his current new team takes on his old one. In a game originally scheduled March 12, the Spartans will travel to Ypsilanti on Wednesday to play Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m.
It’s been almost nine months since the MSU baseball team last took the field, but the Spartans still are trying to keep their momentum rolling.
The Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks agreed in principle Tuesday to a three-team deal in which Detroit would send All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and All-Star starting pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks, FoxSports.com reported Tuesday afternoon.
Although assignments, due dates and midterms quickly are approaching in classes, students would be best advised to relax and take a couple breaks this weekend. That’s because this weekend arguably is the deepest and most complete sports weekend of the year for Michigan residents, featuring a few huge matchups that will be instrumental in determining the standing of local teams during the next couple weeks.
The Detroit Tigers suddenly have found themselves in a heated pennant race with the Minnesota Twins. After losing two of three games in Minneapolis this weekend, the Tigers sit just two and a half games ahead of the Twins in the American League Central as of Tuesday afternoon.